Dimapur, March 1 (MExN): BJP candidate for 50 Longleng Assembly Constituency S Pangnyu Phom has issued a clarification with regard to various news reports carried by regional and local media houses.
In a press release received here on Tuesday, Phom gave his account of the incidents that unfolded at a polling station in Yanchem village and other locations and refuted the allegations. He requested the media “to kindly not publish one sided story but to verify the news before it is flashed out in public domain.”
According to the release, a regional media house had alleged that Phom violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by trying to allow the voters to cast their vote after 4:00 pm. Stating that the allegation was “totally baseless and without any ground evidence,” Phom maintained that he had visited the polling station as a Candidate without any ill intentions. However, at the location, he was reportedly informed that the Presiding Officer (PO) was refusing to allow the voters to cast their vote citing that the voting should end at 4:00 pm.
“I therefore requested the security personnel and polling personnel to allow all the voters those who are already in queue as per the norms of the Election Commission of India, which the Presiding Officer refused and insisted that the voting process will be closed at 4:00 pm and they were asked to disperse,” the release stated.
In this connection, Phom said he would rather appeal to the competent authority to initiate necessary action “who was trying to tarnish my image by randomly making a video which went viral on social media.” Any news channel must first ascertain the fact and bring into the light of public domain with authenticated news, he said while adding that investigation undertaken by the authority against the Polling Personnel must be brought out in the public domain and appropriate action should be taken, if found guilty.
In the release, Phom also referred to a report by a local news channel on February 27 stating that the channel had “falsely reported” an incident which took place at Polling Station High School Ward, (Part No. 19) Longleng. Contrary to the news report, he maintained that the “NCP Party supporters tried to manipulate the voting process and disturb the peaceful environment,” by trying to break and enter the school premises to disturb the voting process. Another group allegedly “came out from one private residence with stones, catapult and firewood because of which my supporters were compelled to retaliate for personal safety and in self-defence.” He maintained that the security personnel present in the scene “can be the living witness to tell who started the violence,” and added that no Polling Officer was injured in the clash.
According to the release, BJP supporters were allegedly assaulted, and attempts were made to vandalize his residence and his political agent’s by the opposing party supporters on February 28. He maintained that his supporters were “only trying to retaliate for safety of lives and property,” while “the NCP supporters even opened blank fire.” Further, he alleged that the “NCP's Agent at Sakshi was found distributing money and buying votes on polling day” and videos of the incident had surfaced.
“I and my party men and women have no interest or intention to create any election related violence or unrest throughout the campaign till polling. However, the continuous threats and violent motive act by the NCP party has resulted to respond back by the BJP party (Sic),” Phom maintained.
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